Fire extinguisher



Nov. 21, 1950 n. NURKlEWxcz FIRE EXTINGUISHER 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 Filed Feb. 28, 1950 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 21, 195o l. NURKIEWICZ 2,530,583

FIRE EXTINGUISHERy Filed Feb. 28,' 195o 2 sheets-sheet v2 Tiq. 57 2 Tg5 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y` Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a re extinguisher of the sealed pressure type; that is, one in which the extinguishing iluid is kept in the extinguisher under pressure until the time for use.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extinguisher of the type described which will hold the pressure within the container for a long period of time without substantial loss and which can be readily opened in time of need to permit the material to be discharged by the pressure.

It is a further object to provide an extinguisher of the type described, in which the valve mechanism will be held in the closed position by the combined action of the spring and of the gas itself and yet in which the closing elements may be caused to engage still more tightly by a simple locking arrangement to insure the maintenance of the pressure.

It is a further object to provide an extinguisher having an operating handle in convenient relation to a carrying handle, and having a locking mechanism convenient of access to the same hand, which can be made to lock the operating handle and which when in locking position will hold the valve mechanism tightly closed.

The invention accordingly comprises a device possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the device hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a central vertical section on the line of Fig. 4 with the valve closed and locked;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary similar view with the valve open;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the upper end of the device;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line I--G of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 is a container which may be made of spun brass, or as shown, it may comprise an upper shell I closed at the bottom by a base |2. The upper end is provided with a nipple I3 to receive the body |4 of the valve mechanism.

The body I4 has a central bore I5 having a rim I1 to form a valve seat. The smaller section I8 of the bore |5 serves as a discharge channel for the fluid, communicating with a lateral opening |9 communicating with a nozzle 20.

A valve stem 2|' in bore I8 carries a valve 22 having an upper flat surface of a resilient compound 23 impervious to the iiuid used, such for example as neoprene. The stem slides vertically in a packing 24 i` the bore, and it screws into a nut 25 which slides in a cylinder 26 concentric with the bore I5. A spring 2'I is confined between the nut 25 and a washer 28 resting on a shoulder 29 in the body I4. The lock nut 30 holds nut 25 in any adjusted position.

An opening handle 3| pivoted at 32 has a hole 33 surrounding the valve stem and is in a position to engage nut 30 when the handle 3| is depressed, as shown in Fig. 2, to force valve 22 away from valve seat I1,

The valve stem carries at its outer end a nut 35 and a flat locking nut 36 in position to be engaged by the handle 3| to pull the valve 22 against its seat I'I, when the handle is forced outwardly.

A locking lever 3l is pivoted to the body I4 and extends upwardly through an opening 38 in lever 3|. This lever has a cam projection 39 shaped and positioned so that, when handle 3| is raised, the projection may be forced beneath the handle, as shown in Fig. 1, to force the handle upwardly enough to cause rm engagement between the valve 22 and the seat I1.

A carrying handle 40 is pivoted at 4I so that it may be folded down against the container if desired or raised to horizontal position for carrying purposes. It is then in cooperative position with the handle 3|.

A nipple 42 ts into the bottom of bore I5 and carries a flexible tube 43 carrying a weighted end 44, so that it will always lie at the bottom of the container even though the container be tilted in use.

The container is provided with a side filling opening comprising a nipple 45 brazed into the side of the top of the container, carrying a tube 46 extending down into the container below the normal liquid level. This nipple is closed by a plug 41 tting against a neoprene valve seat 48.

The availability of this extinguisher in time of emergency depends upon the pressure maintained within it. There is thus provided a pressure gauge 50 fitting into the side of the body I4 and communicating with the interior through a channel 5|.

The locking lever 31 may be provided with a hole 53 through which the sealing wire 54 may be carried extending over any convenient portion of the apparatus, as for example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This wire can be fastened with a seal 55.

Since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above process without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve for a fire extinguisher comprising a container adapted to retain dre extinguishingr fluid under pressure, said valve comprising in combination a body adapted to extend upwardlyr from said container, a downwardly facing valve seat within said body, a valve stem carrying a valve in position to cooperate with said seat and said stem extending upwardly through a packing in the valve body, spring means for urging said valve stem upwardly, means upon said valve stem to provide two shoulders facing each other, an opening handle pivoted on one side of said valve and embracing said valve stem between said shoulders, whereby the depression of said operating lever will open said valve, a sealing lever having a cam surface shaped to engage the underside of the operating lever and to force the valve upwardly into tighter engagement with the valve seat.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the uppermost of the said shoulders comprises a nut screwable on said valve stem, whereby the ultimate tension of said valve against its seat in response to the action of said cam may be adjusted.

3. A device of the character described comprising in combination a container adapted to hold a fluid under pressure, a head fitting into the upper end of said container havin-g an axial bore therein having a plurality of different diameters to provide a downwardly facing valve seat, there being a discharge opening in said head communieating with said bore above said valve seat, a valve cooperating with said seat to close said container having a valve stem having a nut thereon, a spring compressed between said nut and said head to urge said valve against said seat, an opening handle pivoted to said head in position to engage said nut and having an opening to 5 embrace said valve stem, a second nut upon said stem above said opening handle in position to be engaged thereby as said handle is raised, a locking element pivoted to said head and extending through an opening in said handle and having a cam surface movable into position to engage said lever, shaped to force it against said second mentioned nut to compress said valve against said seat and also movable into position to free said opening lever for movement.

4. A nre extinguisher comprising a container adapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluid, a valve body extending upwardly therefrom having a downwardly extending valve seat, a valve stem within said valve body carrying a valve on its lower end in position to engage said seat, a carrying handle pivoted to the body movable from a position substantially parallel to the axis of the container to a position substantially at right angles to the axis, an operating lever connected to open said valve when moved in one direction and to move said valve more tightly against its seat when moved upwardly, and a sealing lever extending upwardly through said operating lever for locking said operating lever and forcing the same upwardly to seal said valve, said sealing lever being in a position to be engaged by the thumb of a hand when said handle is grasped by the fingers of the hand.

5. A valve for use with a re extinguisher comprising a container adapted to contain fire extinguishing fluid under pressure, said valve comprising a body, a downwardly facing annular surface within said body having on its inner edge a downwardly extending flange to serve as a valve seat, a valve having an upwardly facing resilient surface adapted to engage said valve seat, a valve stem extending upwardly from said valve, a chamber surrounding said valve seat, a spring within said chamber, a nut upon said stem to confine said spring and hold said valve against its seat, an operating handle surrounding said stem and a nut upon said stem above said operating handle, a cam beneath said operating handle in position to force said handle upwardly to draw said valve against its seat;

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 in which the valve stem extends on the upper side only of said handle, whereby the valve is without any opening on its lower face.

IGNATIUS NURKIEWICZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,543,827 Doty June 30, 1925 2,454,621 Allen Nov. 23, 1948 

